Support staff, supervisors and administrators in the Clintonville School District will receive wage increases in 2013-14.
The school board approved district employee wages for 2013-14 at their meeting on Monday, April 8.
After discussing 2013-14 wages in closed session, the board returned to open session to vote for a 25 cent per hour raise for support staff, along with their normal step increase. Supervisors and administrators will receive a 1.8 percent wage increase in 2013-14.
The board went on to review policies #3515 – Facilities Use; #1312 – Dealing with Complaints; #9368.12 – Public Participation at Board Meetings; and Exhibit 9368.12 – Public Comments Registration Form.
Mike Michonski was present at the meeting, along with some other members of the Clintonville Youth Wrestling Club, to continue the discussion that began at the previous meeting regarding charges the club incurred as they hosted their annual tournament. This discussion pertained to Policy # 3515 – Facility Use, which was revised Oct. 22, 2012.
This year, the club received a total bill of $1,485, but that was reduced to $1,000 on a one-time basis.
Board Clerk Jim Dins suggested that a cap of $800 be enacted for this year, and then the board could work with various clubs and teams to come up with a more agreeable fee structure for coming years.
Facility use, availability dates – including Sundays – and fees will all be discussed by the board and various clubs that use district facilities.
No changes were suggested for Policy #1312 – Dealing with Complaints.
The board discussed Policy # 9368.12 – Public Participation at Board Meetings and Exhibit 9368.12 – Public Comments Registration Form.
Superintendent Tom O’Toole said he feels the board is very approachable. He also said that people should understand that no action can be taken on comments from the public at that the meeting where the comments are given.
Teacher Kathryn Moser spoke to the board during the public comments portion of the meeting to address a handbook item which would require teachers to volunteer at two sporting events next year.
“Our staff is extremely dedicated,” said Moser. “Some of us are at sporting events; others chaperone trips, serve as 4-H leaders, or Sunday school teachers. I volunteer with Clintonville kids at the State Fair.
“Most of us give 17 nights each year to help with concerts and other school events,” added Moser. “We’re not paid for those events, but this is not a money issue. We give our time because we want to. We work long hours, but we do it because we love it. We also have our own families, and this new requirement feels like the district is not being respectful of teachers’ private lives. We all care about kid and are passionate, but we need to have a personal life too. This requirement is forced time; it’s time that we will miss with our families, and could make us feel resentful.”
O’Toole said the purpose of the requirement would be to help make teachers more visible in the community while providing needed help with supervision and ticket taking.
Board Member Pat Schley said she saw the requirement as a complicated situation, and board member Dirk Weber said he could do without the language requiring two additional assignments for staff members. Board members Jim Dins and Clyde Tellock also expressed concern with the new requirement.
After hearing the consensus of the board, O’Toole said the district would scrap the idea and look for other ways to add supervision and assistance at sporting events.
Stephanie Hintz also spoke during the public comments portion of the meeting.
“I’ve had my kids in this district for 13 years,” said Hintz. “I agree with everything Mike Michonski said about fees for the Youth Wrestling Club. I also want to address the time frame of three minutes per person in the public comments portion of the meetings. I’ve noticed that you don’t always abide by that three minute rule, and I wasn’t aware that there is a six minute limit for groups.
“Regarding Policy #1312 – Complaints, I understand the chain of command; but not everyone is able to find this information. You need to either follow it or not follow it,” said Hintz.
“I also want to talk about summer school,” said Hintz. “I love it. My kids have always attended summer school. We moved out of district this year, and tuition can be as much as $278 for one out-of-district student. That’s extreme.
“I have recently learned that there is a tuition waver, but I didn’t know about it early enough, so I didn’t sign my son up for summer school. It’s hard to see the cost go from $60 to $278,” said Hintz.
School Board President Tim Schultz rebutted Hintz’s statement.
“You moved out of the district, yet you still demand service?” said Schultz.
“Yes. I am only 1.5 miles outside the district, and I take pride in the fact that my kids have been part of this district for 13 years,” responded Hintz.
“I believe we provide good education and encourage open enrollment, but when you demand the same summer school service at the same price when you chose to move out of our district – that’s just crazy.”
Hintz responded that she was disappointed in Schultz’s position, and hoped the district would be more accommodating.
“We don’t want to be babysitting for Marion, Shiocton, Shawano, and any other neighboring district,” said O’Toole.
Hintz also brought up an issue with the collection of lunch bills.
“It’s vague,” said Hintz. “There is no specific amount where it says you will be cut off. Legally, can the district cut you off at any time? The USDA says it should be handled in a moral and ethical manner. I received a letter on Saturday stating that my child’s account had a negative $14 balance. Would my seven-year-old have been denied a meal on Monday? I made sure he had a lunch, but this is extreme. Give us a window so that we know where the cutoff is.”
Several “Good News” items were presented to the board by building administrators. Comments from two high school Student Council representatives, Ana Huber and Morgan Anderson, were also received.
Board Clerk Jim Dins reported on election results from April 2. Judy Magee earned 929 votes, Dirk Weber gathered 820 votes, and Tim Schultz tallied 624. Two seats were open; Weber and Magee will serve in those seats.
The board was also informed that the Department of Public Instruction conducted a review of the district’s food service program to comply with the 6 cent certification requirements. The district passed with great reviews, and special recognition was given to Food Service Director Karleen Brei and her staff. Board members were informed that school lunch requirements will likely become stricter in the near future.
The following items were approved by the board:
• A resolution to support Fair Funding for Our Future Wisconsin Public Schools;
• The resignation of teacher Kevin Godfrey, for the purpose of retirement, at the end of the 2012-13 school year;
• The resignation of Middle School Principal Tom Dechant, effective at the end of the 2012-13 school year;
• The resignation of High School Auditorium Manager Tyler Klegin; and
• The second reading of the remainder of the 2013-14 Employee Handbook (board member Ben Huber abstained).
The district will hold the Annual Staff Appreciation Dinner at Mason’s Ridge at 6 p.m. Sunday, April 21.
A re-organizational and regular meeting of the Board of Education will take place at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 22, in the middle school IMC.